Steel wool scouring implement



Oct. 21, 1969 BUCK, JR 3,473,184

STEEL WOOL SCOURING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 23. 1968 FIG. I

INVENTOR. FRED H, BUCK, JR

BY fab/7% ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,473,184 STEEL WOOL SCOUlRING IMPLEMENT Fred H. Buck, 31:, 189 Old Denville Road, Boonton Township, Morris County, NJ. 07005 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 675,727, Sept. 5, 1967. This application Sept. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 767,907

Int. Cl. A471 13/04 US. Cl. 152l)9 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cleaning device which includes steel wool. The device has a layer of steel wool provided with opposed surfaces at one of which the tool wool fibers are exposed to be applied to a surface which is to be cleaned. At the other of the opposed surfaces there is situated a solidified foam resin backing such as polyurethane, polystyrene or vinyl resins which is fixed to the steel wool layer at this other of the opposed surfaces thereof. The backing is flexible and the composite structure formed by the steel wool and the backing which is fixed thereto has a flexibility which is sufficient to enable this structure to be bent at a pair of opposed edges thereof through 180 about the edges of a supporting plate.

Cross reference to related application This application is a continuation-in-part of application of Ser. No. 675,727, filed Sept. 5, 1967, now abandoned, and entitled Cleaning Device and Method for Manufacturing the Same which is a continuation-in-part of application of Ser. No. 449,783, filed Apr. 21, 1965, now abandoned, and entitled Device.

Background of invention The present invention relates to cleaning devices.

In particular, the present invention relates to cleaning devices which include a layer of steel wool which is to be applied to a surface which is to be cleaned.

While cleaning devices including steel wool are known, these devices suffer from several drawbacks. In the first place the fibers of steel wool become loose in the conventional devices. In the second place it is difiicult to apply the steel wool to surfaces such as a floor for the purpose of removing wax or encrustations thereon.

Summary of the invention It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device which will avoid the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a cleaning device wherein a layer of steel wool, while having exposed fibers which can be applied to a surface which is to be cleaned, nevertheless can be conveniently handled and will not suffer the risk of having its fibers loosen from each other.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a disposable steel wool pad assembly which can be easily used for cleaning purposes and then replaced whenever required.

In accordance with the invention the cleaning device includes a layer of steel wool having a pair of opposed surfaces one of which is exposed, and at this one surface the steel wool fibers are completely exposed so as to be applicable to the surface which is to be cleaned. A solidified foam resin backing is located at the other of the surfaces of the steel wool layer and is fixed to this other surface, and the backing is flexible. The composite structure formed by the steel wool layer and the backing has sufii- 6 Claims cient flexibility so that it can be bent at opposed edges through about the edges of a supporting plate.

Brief description of the drawings The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partly broken away view of one embodiment of a composite pad structure of the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 mounted on a device which renders the structure of FIG. 1 convenient to handle.

Description of preferred embodiment Referring now to the figures, a pad 1 is shown in FIG. 2 having its edges folded through 180 about block or plate 2 which may be made of wood, plastic or a similar substance. Pad 1 consists in FIGS. 1 and 2 of a steel wool layer which has been impregnated with a foam resin at its upper portion. The foam resin may be applied in liquid form to the steel wool and then allowed to harden in the manufacture of the pad. The impregnation of the foam resin into the steel wool increases the cohesion of the steel wool fibers so that the steel wool will not tear apart under heavy usage. Normally, under heavy wear, untreated steel wool will come apart as the fibers will unravel under the wear of steady use. The addition of the foam resin to the steel wool strengthens the fiber structure of the steel wool so that the impregnated steel wool pad can be used as a cleaning and abrasive agent for a long period of time. The resins contemplated within the teaching of the present invention are foamed polyurethanes, polystyrenes, vinyl resins and the like. If desired, some of these resins may be provided with small pores. The styrene resins, such as polystyrene, have excellent mechanical properties, are resistant to moisture, acid and strong alkalies. Vinyl resins such as polyvinylchloride' also have excellent mechanical properties and are moisture-resistant. All the aforesaid resins, and especially polyurethanes, can be fabricated to have various degrees of flexibility and compression resistance without changing the density of the material.

This steel wool pad also has the desirable property of being flexible so that the pad may be shaped and folded to envelop a supporting member. Such a supporting memher is shown by block or plate 2 which may be made of wood, plastic, metal or any other rigid substance. It is also within the teachings of the present invention to have the pad 1 preformed with a central, flat, floor-engaging portion and end pieces which are curved so that the same may be readily affixed to the supporting member 2.

Pad 1 is placed in intimate contact with block 2 so that the pad 1 is placed over the entire bottom surface of support 2 and the two ends of pad 1 are folded over and placed on the top surface of support 2. The pad is so placed on the support so that the non-impregnated portion of the pad will contact the floor surface when the device is employed. Holes 7 in pad 1 are spaced over the holes 8 in support 2. The holes are 50 positioned that when holes 7 and 8 are in registry and contact with each other, pad 1 is fitted snugly around the outer surface of support 2. A second plate or support 5, which, can be made of a similar substance as first support 2, is placed over pad 1 and support 2, until holes 9, in support 5, are in registry with holes 7 and 8. A fastening means includes a threadable shaft 3 which is then placed through the three holes so aligned and is fastened at its top end by a wing nut 4. In tis manner a firm structure is formed consisting of the pad and the two support members with the two ends of the pad lying between the two support members. An elongated linear handle 6 is attached by any suitable means to the top support 5. The handle 6 can be made of a material similar to that of the two supports. The handle extends in a direction away from the support and is of sufficient length to permit the user to manipulate the cleaning device from a standing position.

To replace the steel wool pad when it is no longer usable for cleaning purposes, the wing nuts 4 are loosened and removed and top surface 5 is lifted off threadable shift 3. The pad 1 is then lifted off shaft 3 and discarded. At this point, a new pad is placed into the cleaner in a manner which has been described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cleaning device, a layer of steel wool having a pair of opposed surfaces, one of said surfaces having steel wool fibers which are exposed to engage a surface that is to be cleaned, a backing in the form of a solidified liquid foam resin having excellent mechanical properties and impregnated in the steel wool layer on the other opposed surface of said layer of steel wool thereby hardening on said other opposed surface of said layer of steel wool to increase the cohesion of the embedded steel wool fibers in said resin, a first plate engaging the backing and the latter together with said steel wool layer being bent at opposed edges thereof through approximately 180 about opposed edges of said first plate, and a second plate engaging the bent edges of said backing and said steel Wool layer assembly at the surfaces of said edges which are remote from said first plate, an elongated linear handle on said second plate extending away from said first plate, and fastening means extending through said bent over edges of said 4 steel wool layer and backing together with said first and second plates for releasably fastening said plates and steel wool layer to each other.

2. In a cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid foam resin is a foamed polyurethane.

3. In a cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid foam resin is a foamed polystyrene.

4. In a cleaning deviceas claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid foam resin is a foamed vinyl resin.

5. In a cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said backing is preformed with an impregnated steel wool layer therein.

6. In a cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein solidified liquid foam resin is provided with small pores forming a rigid backing with a limited amount of flexibility.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 916,755 3/1909 Moseke 1523l 2,138,288 11/1938 Bailey 15-231 3,226,751 1/1966 Lemelson 15l 18 FOREIGN PATENTS 808,147 7/ 1951 Germany. 899,017 6/ 1962 Great Britain.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 15-231 

